BB&T Atlanta Open tournament director Bob Bryant said Bob and Mike Bryan, the world’s top-ranked doubles team, informed him last week that even though they were pulling out of his tournament, they planned to finish their World Team Tennis event in Philadelphia over the weekend.
They competed with Bob Bryan, who has a shoulder injury, basically lobbing serves but the Bryans still won 5-4 on Sunday. Bob’s injury was cited as the reason they withdrew from the Atlanta Open, which is being played this week at Atlantic Station.
“I knew it would be difficult from a fan’s perspective (to understand) because they just played,” Bryant said. “I love Team Tennis, but it’s certainly not the same environment as the ATP Tour.”
The Bryan brothers currently hold all four Grand Slam titles. Their withdrawal was announced Saturday.
“They haven’t missed a commitment at a tournament. This is the second time in 12 years,” Bryant said. “They take it seriously. They know what it means.”
Bryant said he discussed with the brothers the possibility of participating in Monday night’s exhibition match that would feature four sets of brothers, but he felt that the competition deserved players who were 100 percent.
Bryant said he hadn’t received feedback from fans who were aggravated by the Bryan’s decision.
Monday matches
American Ryan Harrison defeated Australia’s Marinko Matosevic 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in the first main-draw match of the tournament on Monday. Harrison will face Holland’s Igor Sijsling, the fourth seed, in the second round. The two have never met. Sijsling is ranked No. 59 and Harrison is No. 132.
Matthew Ebden defeated fellow Australian Chris Guccione 6-4, 7-6 (2) in a final-round qualifying match. Germany’s Mischa Zverev defeated India’s Prakash Amritraj 6-4, 6-2 in another final-round qualifying match.
On the doubles side, the United Kingdom’s Colin Fleming and Jonathan Marray defeated Evgeny Donskoy and Denis Istomin 6-3, 7-6 (5).
In another main-draw pairing, the match between Americans Denis Kudla and Rhyne Williams was not finished.
Tuesday’s schedule
On Stadium Court
4 p.m.: Lleyton Hewitt vs. Edouardo Roger-Vasselin.
Followed by: Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo vs. Ryan and Christian Harrison.
Not before 7 p.m.: Mardy Fish vs. Michael Russell.
Followed by: James Blake vs. Tim Smyczek.
On AJC Grandstand Court
3 p.m.: Yen-Hsun Lu vs. Kevin King.
Not before 5 p.m.: Jack Sock vs. Santiago Giraldo.
Followed by: Denis Istomin vs. Lukas Lacko.
On Court 3
2 p.m.: Ricardas Berankis vs. Mischa Zverev.
Followed by: Raveev Ram vs. Evgeny Donskoy.
Followed by: Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram vs. Yen-Hsun Lu and Marinko Matosevic.
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